Dual Sympathetic Blocks for Patients Experiencing Sympathetically-Mediated Symptoms From Long COVID (DSBLongCOVID)
Post Acute COVID-19 Syndrome, Long COVID, Long Covid19
About this trial
This is an interventional treatment trial for Post Acute COVID-19 Syndrome focused on measuring COVID, long covid, SARS-COV2, COVID-19, long COVID-19, post covid, dysautonomia, stellate ganglion block, dual sympathetic block, SGB, DSB
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria: Prior confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis by standard RT-PCR assay or equivalent testing Persistent symptoms that continue four or more weeks after the start of a COVID-19 infection Quantified autonomic symptoms from at least one domain as reported by the patient on the screener Composite Autonomic Symptom Score (COMPASS-31). The COMPASS-31 assesses 6 domains of autonomic symptoms: Orthostatic Intolerance, Vasomotor, Secretomotor, Gastrointestinal, Bladder, and Pupillomotor. Quantified pain symptoms of pain interference or pain intensity as reported by the patient on the screener Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS-29) Exclusion Criteria: Under age 18 Prior SGB Allergy to amide local anesthetics (e.g., ropivacaine, bupivacaine/Marcaine) Pregnancy Current anticoagulant use History of a bleeding disorder History of glaucoma Infection or mass at injection site For the consistency of this study, patients who deny all autonomic symptoms on the COMPASS-31 or pain symptoms on the PROMIS-29 will also be excluded
Sites / Locations
- Hudson Medical
Arms of the Study
Arm 1
Experimental
Active
This is a non-randomized, non-blinded study. Participants eligible for this study will receive active treatment. Dual Sympathetic Blocks of the stellate ganglion are minimally- invasive outpatient procedures performed under monitored care anesthesia (light sedation). Under ultrasound visualization, a small needle is guided into the neck region that contains the stellate ganglion nerve cluster at C6-C7. Once the needle position is confirmed, a local anesthetic (7 cc of 0.5% bupivacaine/Marcaine) is injected around the stellate ganglion by the Principal Investigator. This procedure is repeated at the C3-C4 level to block the superior cervical ganglion nerve cluster (3 cc of 0.5% bupivacaine/Marcaine).